Squeegee supporting device for stencil printing machine



Sept, 25, 1956 J. E. PODGQR 2,764,084

SQUEEGEE SUPPORTING DEVICE FOR STENCIL PRINTING MACHINE Filed Jan. 18, 1954 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR. oseph 1: Poo gar Sept. 25, 1956 J. E. PODGOR 2,764,034

E] SUPPORTING DEVICE FOR STENCIL PRINTING MACHINE SQUEEGE 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 wFilGd Jan. 18, 1954 INVENTUR. Joseph E Pea/g0! 1 Lw N M w 3% u a a an United States Patent SQUEEGEE SUPPORTING DEVICE FOR STENCIL PRINTING MACHINE Joseph E. Podgor, Philadelphia, Pa. Application January 18, 1954, Serial No. 404,668 1 Claim. (21. 101-126) My invention relates to printing devices and more particularly to a printing means that employs a partially coated metal screen arranged to permit the free passage of paint or ink through the uncoated portions of the screen to apply the ink in a predetermined pattern to the paper being printed. This process is known in the trade as screen-process printing.

The printing device herein disclosed is of the type employed for job-printing of quantities of one thousand copies or less; printing jobs that do not warrant the elaborate set up of a multiple printing device. In devices of the job-printing type, where considerable manual effort is required, it is desirous and in many cases imperative that the effort required on the part of the operator be kept to a minimum; in this way it is possible for the operator to produce many copies in a given time without tiring.

Accordingly, it is an object of my invention to provide a relatively simple and inexpensive screen-process printing machine which requires relatively little effort to operate.

Another object of my invention is to provide a screenprocess printing machine having operating parts that are adjustably balanced so that little effort is required on the part of the operator in the movement of said operating parts. a

Another object of my invention is to provide a screenprocess printing machine having accurately balanced op erating parts arranged so that the operator is in complete and accurate control of said parts without having to employ much effort to lift, lower, or move said parts.

Another object of my invention is to provide a screenprocess printing machine having an accurately balanced squeegee support member and an accurately balanced screen frame the two units cooperating to be manipulated by a single handle under control of the operator.

Other objects of my invention are to provide an improved device of the character described, which is easily and economically produced, and which is sturdy, compact, and accurately balanced in construction.

With these and other objects in view which will be come apparent as the following description proceeds, the invention includes certain novel features of design and combination of parts, the essential elements of which are set forth in the appended claims and a preferred form or embodiment of Which is hereinafter described with reference to the illustrations which accompany and form a part of this specification.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view machine mounted on a table,

Fig. 2 is an elevational view of the squeegee member and operating handle of my screen-printing machine,

Fig. 3 is a sectional view of the operating arm support member of the machine,

Fig. 4 is a side elevational for the screen frame of the of my screen-printing view of the balancing means machine,

Fig. 5 is a side elevational view of the balancing weight for the operating arm of the machine,

Fig. 6 is a sectional view taken at line 6-6 of Fig. 2 showing an end view of the squeegee mounting means,

Fig. 7 is a sectional View taken at line 7--7 of Fig. 3 showing the positioning wheels for the operating arm support member, and

Fig. 8 is a sectional view taken at line 88 of Fig. 5 showing an end view of the balancing weight of the operating arm of the machine.

Referring now in greater detail to the illustrations, I disclose a screen-process printing machine, generally designated as P, mounted on a table, generally designated as T, which may be of any conventional construction. The screen-process printing machine P is comprised of a horizontal arm 10, to which are secured the squeegee unit 20 and the counter-balance weight 40. The horizontal arm is in turn secured to a transverse shaped support 50 by the carriage 60 which permits lateral motion of the horizontal arm 10 while at the same time positioning the horizontal arm 10 at right angles to the transverse support 50.

The horizontal arm 10, square in cross section, has a handle 11 securely affixed to its outer end; the handle is for the use of the operator and is the only contact necessary for the operator to use in the manipulation of both the screen-process printing machine I? and the screen frame, generally designated S. The horizontal arm 10 is hollow and it has a longitudinal slot 12 in its underside to permit adjustable securing of the squeegee unit 20 and counter-balance weight 40 also for the adjustable securing of the horizontal arm 10 to the carriage 60.

The squeegee unit 20 adjustably secured to the underside of the horizontal arm 10 by the securing block 13 and cap screws 14 is comprised of a support member 21 shaped like a T; the upper portion 22 is adiustably secured to the underside of the horizontal arm 10 by the securing block 13 and cap screws 14; a downwardly extending rib 23 extends between and interfits with two upwardly extending ribs 24 on a secondary support member 25. Extending through holes in the downwardly extending rib 23 of the support member 21 and the upwardly extending ribs 24 of the secondary support member 25 is a securing bolt 26. The arrangement of the downwardly extending rib 23 and the upwardly extending ribs 24 and the securing bolt 26 permits limited rotatable motion between the squeegee support member and secondary support member, thus insuring contact between the entire lower edges of the rubber portion 34 of the squeegee and the screen 81 of the screen frame 80.. A squeegee securing member 27 is rotatably secured to the ends of the secondary support member 27 by the angle clips 28; the angle clips 28 are securely attached to the squeegee support member 27 by the bolts 29 and rotatably at-- tached to the ends of the secondary support member 25 by the shouldered securing bolts 30; this arrangement permits rotary motion between the squeegee securing member 27 and the secondary support member 25. The rotary motion between the squeegee securing member and the secondary support member 25 is adjustab ly limited by two downwardly extending arms 3131, said arm being securely aflixed to the upwardly extending ribs 24 of the secondary support member 25 by welding and are fitted with thumb screws 32 at their lower ends. The thumb screws 32 are positioned to engage the sides of the squeegee securing member 27 as it moves from side to side during the manipulation of the machine and thus limit the movement of the squeegee to the end that a sloping side of the squeegee rubber 27 always presented to the paint or ink, and thus force the paint or ink through the holes in the screen 71 and onto the paper being printed. The squeegee securing member 34 is of en'eaosa an inverted U-shape with the lower ends turned in to engage grooves 35 on each side of the squeegee block 33. The block 33 is securely positioned in the squeegee securing member 27 by thumb screws 36. The arrangement of the squeegee blockand squeegee securingmember 27, as-above described, permits the insertion of. various'length squeegees to suit the product beingprocessed. The transverse support 51 of the screen-process printmg machine P is comprised of two steel angles 51 welded together, as illustrated in Fig. 3 or it may be of a single steel structural shape havingfour legs each at right angles to the other. The transverse support angles 51 are supported at their extremities by two journal bearings 52 and are free to rotate in these bearings. The rotary motion permits raising. and lowering of the horizontal arm by the operator.

The operating arm carriage 6tl is arranged to travel on the transverse support 50 and is comprised of a base portion 61, which is adjustably attached to the horizontal arm 10 by. the securing block and cap screws 16. Secured to and arranged to position and support the carriage base member 61 are a multiplicity of wheels with anti-friction bearings. Two of the wheels 62-62 are arranged to engage the front side of the vertical leg 53 of the transverse support steel angles 51. Opposing the wheels 62-62 are two wheels 63-63 arranged to engage the back side of the vertical leg 53. The arrangement of the wheels 62-62 and wheels 63-63 securely mounted on the carriage base member 61 insures right angle space relationship between the transverse support member and the horizontal operating arm 10, and at the same time offers little resistance to the transverse movement of the carriage and supported horizontal operating arm. Two of the wheels 64-64 are arranged to engage the upper side of the backwardly extending leg 54 of the transverse support steel angles 51, opposing the wheels 64-64 is a single wheel 65 supported and securely positioned by the metal angle member 66 which in turn is secured to the upper side of the carriage base member 61 by the bolts 67. The arrangement of the wheels 64-64 and the wheel 65, securely affixed to the carriage base member 61, insures support for the carriage 60, operating arm 10 and appurtenances and also insures definite space relationship between the transverse support 50 and the squeegee unit 20, the whole assembly offering little resistance to transverse movement of the operating arm 10 of the machine P.

The counter-balancing weight 40 adjustably mounted on the outboard end of the horizontal arm it) is comprised of a weight 41 and securing lugs 42; the securing lugs support the weight and are in turn supported by and secured to the underside of the horizontal arm 10 by the cap screws 18 which are threaded into a securing block 17. In setting-up. the machine; after the. correct squeegee has been applied, the counter-balance weight 40 is positioned on the out-board end of. the. horizontal arm so that the squeegee exerts a slight downwardpressure on the screen 71.

The screen frame, generally designated as S, is comprised of a frame'7G to which is secured a metal screen 71; the screen frame is secured to the printing machine base member 55 by hinges 72 and is positioned so that the attached screen 71 is directly over the paper stock 56 that is to be printed, when the frame is in the lowered position. The paper stock 56 is in turn supported by the table top 57, see Fig. 2 and Fig. 3. Attached to the sides 73-73 of the screen frame S are cords 74-74; said cords pass up over pulleys 75-75, supported by arms 79-79, and their ends are secured to weights 76-76. Stop knobs 77-77 and stops 73-78 are provided; the stop knobs 77-77 are securely attached to the screen frame cords 74-74 and cooperating with the stops 78-78 limit the upward movement of the screen frame to position the frame so that the printed paper can be removed and a new sheet inserted under the frame. The weights 76-76 are heavy enough to counterbalance the screen frame and also provide a force that is sufficient to keep the screen '71 of the frame in contact with the squeegee unit 20when the operator raises the unit 29 by the operating arm 10. The squeegee unit 20 has applied to it a slight downwardpressure' as described above and' the squeegee and screen are in contact with each other Jat'all-times during the operation of the machine.

With the accurate balance between the screen-process printing machine P andthe screen frame S, as described above, the whole operation of the machine is from the one operating handle 77 and is under complete control of the operator. In devices of this kind it is necessary for the operator to have' accurate control for often the inkor paint is not of the same consistency, especially after an. extended run and the quality of thefinished product depends on the manipulation of the machine by the operator. In. the embodiment herein disclosed, every effort has been made to devise a machine that gives the operator complete control and prevent tiring of the operator.

Although my invention has been described in considerable detail, such description is intended as illustrative rather than as limiting, as-the'invention maybe variously embodied, andthe scope of the invention isto be determined as claimed.

I claim as my invention:

A screen-process printing machine comprising a screen frame'supporting a screen,. said screen frame pivotally secured to and mounted on a flat surface, saidframe and screen arranged to permit insertion of material to be printed beneath said screen, a balanced. operating arm supporting asqueege'e arranged to contact said screen and to force ink and paint through holes in said. screen, balance weights arranged'tocounter-balance said screen frame and said operating. arm so that said squeegee is in contact with said screen during the operation of said machine, saidioperating arm mounted on a carriage which in turn is movably mounted on a rotatable transverse support member, said transverse support memberhaving four radially extending legs positioned apart, said carriage having: support rollers arranged to be supported by the upper surface of the backwardly extending leg of said transverse support member and a roller arranged: to engage the under-surface of said backwardly extending leg, said carriage also havinga multiplicity ofrollers rotating on vertical axes securedto the underside of. said carriage and arranged to engage the frontrandback face of the upwardly extending leg of said transverse support member, said vertically rotating rollers functioning'to prevent forward andbackward movement of said operat ing arm in: relationship to said'transverse support mem her, all the rollers on said carriage functioning. fOTlnZllIh tain said carriage in definite spaced: relationship to. the longitudinal centerlineof' said' transverse support memiv her and said screen frame, and said movably mounted operating arm carriage in cooperation with said rotatably mounted transverse support member functioning to per mit longitudinal and vertical movementiof said" operating arm and: the entire functioning of said. machine being under direct control of the operator by way of said operatlng arm.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,146,773 Sloan Feb; 14, 1.939 2,462,376 Fleisher et al. "Feb. 22, 1949 2,571,685 DAutremont Oct; 16, 1951 

